OPERATIONS MANAGER

LSI

Austin (TX)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 150,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Performance-based incentive structure

Clear pathway to C-suite leadership

Job summary

A design and planning firm in Austin, Texas, is seeking an exceptional Operations Manager to serve as their Integrator. This pivotal role will transform the firm's ambitious vision into measurable outcomes, guiding growth from $2.5M to $10M+ in revenue by 2030. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years in leadership within related fields, focusing on systems design, financial management, and team development. Join a passionate team dedicated to creating meaningful places across Texas.

Qualifications

10+ years of leadership experience in architecture, design, real estate development, or related fields.
Proven track record scaling organizations through significant growth phases.
Deep expertise in financial management and operational strategy.

Responsibilities

Translate visionary objectives into actionable quarterly rocks and measurable KPIs.
Design and implement the operating system that scales from 15 to 50 people.
Drive accountability across all levels—holding everyone to their commitments.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Project management

Systems thinking

Emotional Intelligence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Planning, Business, or related field

Tools

Project management software

Job description

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LSI (Land Strategies Inc) | Austin, Texas

Reports to: President (EOS Visionary)

The Opportunity

LSI stands at an inflection point. After 40 years of shaping meaningful places across Texas through integrated design excellence, we are architecting our next phase of explosive growth. We seek an exceptional Operations Manager to serve as our Integrator—the operational force who will transform our ambitious vision into reality.

This is not just a job—it's a partnership opportunity to help scale a legacy firm from $2.5M to $10M+ in revenue and from 15 to 35 team members by 2030, ultimately building toward a 50‑person organization with satellite offices across the United States with focus on the Southeast and mountain west markets by 2036. As we grow, so will you—with a clear path from Operations Manager to COO to CEO, paralleling the firm's expansion.

About LSI

Our Mission: To enhance the lives of individuals and communities through meaningful interactions with the artifacts of our design.

Our Vision: To create places deeply rooted in local culture and values, meticulously combining design elements to meet the aspirations and requirements of the communities we serve, enhancing quality of life for everyone who interacts with the environments we craft.

Our Identity: We are Placemakers—design professionals who define and enhance sense of place through excellence in planning, architecture, and landscape architecture.

Core Values (GOALS)

Growth – Committed to continual improvement and advancement
Ownership – Taking responsibility and pride in our impact
Artistry – Where creativity and craft meet to create inspiring work
Leadership – Promoting leadership at every level
Self‑Discipline – Operating with standards, processes, and clear communication

The Role: EOS Integrator

As our Integrator, you are the harmonizing force that turns the Visionary's ideas into functioning reality. While our President dreams and creates, you execute and optimize. You are the filter, the translator, and the accountability driver who ensures that every big idea becomes a measurable outcome. This role requires someone who thrives on creating order from creative chaos—a systems thinker who respects the artistic process while insisting on operational excellence. You'll be the steady hand that guides a team of talented designers and planners toward both creative fulfillment and financial success.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Execution & Accountability

Translate visionary objectives into actionable quarterly rocks and measurable KPIs
Design and implement the operating system that scales from 15 to 50 people
Drive accountability across all levels—holding everyone (including leadership) to their commitments
Serve as the primary filter between the Visionary's ideas and organizational capacity
Review and analyze GAP accounting reports, P&Ls, and financial statements
Create custom KPIs and dashboards that measure what matters
Drive project profitability through systematic review and intervention
Design and administer systems for proposals and contract writing and improvement
Oversee invoicing, collections, and cash flow management
Transform financial data into actionable insights for strategic decision‑making

Systems Design & Optimization

Architect scalable systems and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Explore and utilize emerging AI tools to increase firm efficiency and effectiveness
Remove friction points that impede growth and efficiency
Design resource allocation models that maximize utilization and profitability
Build the infrastructure for multi‑office operations
Measure metrics that prove efficacy of implemented systems

Team Development & Culture

Champion LSI's GOALS values through every interaction and decision
Design and implement comprehensive onboarding and training programs
Create clear role definitions and performance expectations
Foster a culture where accountability enhances rather than stifles creativity
Develop future leaders who embody both operational excellence and design thinking

Cross‑Functional Leadership

Partner with Studio Directors to optimize production efficiency
Collaborate with Marketing to track ROI and refine strategies
Support Business Development through proposal writing and strategic positioning
Ensure seamless communication across all departments and disciplines

The Ideal Candidate

The Executor: You turn ideas into reality with relentless follow‑through
The Systems Architect: You see patterns and design elegant solutions
The Culture Champion: You embody our values while driving performance
The Translator: You speak both creative and business fluently
The Steady Hand: Calm under pressure, decisive in ambiguity

Professional Requirements

10+ years of leadership experience in architecture, design, real‑estate development, professional services, or related fields
Proven track record scaling organizations through significant growth phases
Deep expertise in financial management, KPI development, and operational strategy
Experience implementing business operating systems (EOS knowledge a plus)
Strong command of project management methodologies and software platforms

Educational Background

Bachelor's degree required (Architecture, Planning, Business, or related field)
Advanced degree or MBA preferred but not required
Professional licensure (AIA, ASLA, etc.) valued but not required

Additional Competencies

Accountability Driver: Creates clarity on 'what success looks like' and ensures delivery
Systems Thinker: Connects dots across disciplines to optimize the whole
Emotional Intelligence: Navigates creative personalities with grace and respect
Data‑Driven Decision Maker: Balances intuition with objective analysis
Growth Mindset: Continuously improves self, systems, and others

What Success Looks Like

Year 3: Scale to $6M revenue, expand team to 25 members

Year 5: Achieve $10M+ revenue, establish satellite office, transition toward C‑Suite role

Year 10+: Lead 50‑person firm across multiple offices as an established C‑Suite executive

Why Join LSI?

This is more than a job—it's an opportunity to leave your fingerprint on a firm's next 40 years. You'll work alongside passionate designers and planners who believe in the power of place to transform lives. You'll have the autonomy to build systems that matter, the resources to implement your vision, and the support of a President who values execution as much as innovation.

We Offer

Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
Performance‑based incentive structure tied to firm growth
Clear pathway to C‑suite leadership
The chance to shape an enduring legacy in Texas design

The Candidate Profile

You are a high‑performing operations professional who consistently exceeds expectations and delivers results. In your current role, you have reached the limits of your growth—not because your potential has been fulfilled, but because your capacity and ambition far exceed the opportunities available. You are ready for a trajectory that matches your drive.

You're looking for a firm where you can meaningfully shape the next stage of your career—an environment that values strategic thinking, operational excellence, and the desire to build something lasting. You are motivated by the opportunity to scale an organization and, more importantly, expand its impact.

You possess a natural CEO mindset: you think globally, connect strategy to execution, and understand how all parts of a business interlock to drive performance. You thrive in environments where creativity and structure meet, and you have a proven ability to bring clarity, order, and momentum to complex or fast‑moving situations.

You excel at partnering with creatives and visionaries, translating big ideas into actionable systems, processes, and achievable milestones. You are driven by big, ambitious goals—and you know how to mobilize teams, resources, and priorities to achieve them.

You're seeking the right opportunity to grow from Operations Manager to COO and ultimately toward a CEO‑level leadership role—within a company that recognizes and rewards leadership, ownership, and long‑term impact.

A Personal Note from Michael G. Linehan, President

"We are a firm built on vision, but our future depends on execution. I'm seeking a true partner—someone who gets energized by turning ambitious ideas into measurable results. Our team brims with creative talent; what we need now is an operational leader who can help us perform at our highest potential."

"The right person will find a culture that deeply values both artistry and accountability. You'll have the opportunity to build the systems that will define how we operate for decades to come. If you believe in the power of design, the importance of measurable results, and the art of turning vision into reality—then we should talk."

"This role isn't for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. It's for a builder, a grower, someone who sees our current size not as comfortable but as a launching pad. Together, we'll create something extraordinary."

How to Apply

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